Samie Modak &Amp; Manojit Saha

Stories by Samie Modak &Amp; Manojit Saha

After Tax Blow To Debt MFs, HNIs May Turn To AIFs

After Tax Blow To Debt MFs, HNIs May Turn To AIFs

Rediff.com   11 Apr 2023

'Given that debt AIFs, by nature, target a higher portfolio return, it is likely to attract investors like HNIs, family offices, etc, looking for a higher yield debt product.'

'Rs 2,000 note is not easily available'

'Rs 2,000 note is not easily available'

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2023

By the end of March 2022, only 2,140 million pieces of Rs 2,000 denomination currency notes were in circulation, or 13.8 per cent of the total value of notes.

US banking turmoil: ADRs of Domestic Banks Impacted

US banking turmoil: ADRs of Domestic Banks Impacted

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2023

Analysts say domestic banks' dependence on local depositors insulates them from the crisis.

UBS buy gives Credit Suisse India employees a glimmer of hope

UBS buy gives Credit Suisse India employees a glimmer of hope

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2023

UBS stepping in to save Credit Suisse with a $3.2-billion acquisition has provided the beleaguered Swiss bank's India employees a glimmer of hope. The surprise deal - engineered by the Swiss government - has triggered optimism of fewer job losses at Credit Suisse's India unit and better synergies at key verticals, such as wealth management and investment banking. "UBS is a much stronger hand. Coming within its fold will give Credit Suisse's wealth management and investment banking divisions a good home.

HDFC twins' merger: RBI may take call on relaxations closer to date

HDFC twins' merger: RBI may take call on relaxations closer to date

Rediff.com   27 Mar 2023

The Reserve Bank of India is likely to take a call on the relaxations sought by HDFC Bank in relation to the merger, as the date of merger draws closer, sources said. The HDFC twins, which announced their decision to merge in April last year, received National Company Law Tribunal's (NCLT's) approval recently - a key milestone to close the deal in due time. The management of both the entities had said that it will take 15-18 months for the merger.

Silicon Valley Bank crisis unlikely to affect Indian banks: Analysts

Silicon Valley Bank crisis unlikely to affect Indian banks: Analysts

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2023

The recent run on the US-based Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and the subsequent seizure of its assets by the regulators may have sparked a global wave of risk aversion, particularly for start-ups. However, the Indian banking sector is unlikely to be a victim of any contagion effects, said analysts. he bank, which played a big role in financing start-ups and technology players, faced stress after incurring huge losses on its holdings of US bonds, following the most-aggressive monetary tightening cycle by the Federal Reserve in around four decades.

Equities outpace bonds in ultra-long marathon

Equities outpace bonds in ultra-long marathon

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2023

Equities are the go-to asset class as far as ultra-long-term returns are concerned. Over the past 123 years, global equities have provided an annualised real return of 5 per cent in US dollar terms, while bonds have delivered 1.7 per cent and short-term bills just 0.4 per cent, according to Credit Suisse's Global Investment Returns Yearbook 2023. In collaboration with the London Business School, Credit Suisse has analysed over 100 years of returns for key asset classes in 35 countries.

With IPOs losing steam, Sebi steps in with 'hard underwriting' move

With IPOs losing steam, Sebi steps in with 'hard underwriting' move

Rediff.com   3 Mar 2023

The Securities and Exchange Board of India's (Sebi's) proposal to re-introduce "hard underwriting" is seen as step to boost India's moribund initial public offering (IPO) markets. The regulator has proposed that in case an IPO fails to garner full subscription, the investment banker or a third-party can buy the unsubscribed shares. This practice was common during fixed-price issues prior to 1999. However, under the new book building regime, underwriting is allowed only to the extent of shortfall due to technical rejection of bids - this is referred to as "soft underwriting" and is rarely invoked.

In a month, LIC stock down 15%, out of top 10 in market capitalisation

In a month, LIC stock down 15%, out of top 10 in market capitalisation

Rediff.com   1 Mar 2023

Shares of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India hit fresh record lows amid sustained decline in Adani Group stocks. Its stock finished at Rs 567.8, down 2.9 per cent over its previous close. The state-owned insurer's market value is now down Rs 2.4 trillion, or 40 per cent, compared to initial public offering levels.

'No need to raise capital for Citi deal'

'No need to raise capital for Citi deal'

Rediff.com   28 Feb 2023

'Citibank customers will migrate to the Axis Bank platform over 18 months.'

Practice of permanent board seats at listed companies likely to end

Practice of permanent board seats at listed companies likely to end

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2023

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has proposed to put a stop to the practice of certain directors occupying permanent board seats at listed companies. The regulator has suggested that the directorship of any individual serving on the board should be subject to periodic approval from shareholders, at least once in five years. In a discussion paper issued on Tuesday, Sebi said a few promoters enjoyed permanency on the board, giving them an undue advantage, prejudicial to the interests of public shareholders.

Secret behing the success of Indian Bank

Secret behing the success of Indian Bank

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2023

Indian Bank expects recoveries to be more than slippages in this financial year, which will result in improved asset quality.

India moves to T+1 settlement from Friday: Here's what experts say

India moves to T+1 settlement from Friday: Here's what experts say

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2023

Friday will be a landmark day for domestic markets, with all the listed stocks entering the professed T+1 (trading plus one day) settlement cycle. About 200 stocks, which account for more than 80 per cent of India's market capitalisation, will be settled on a next-day basis, with effect from January 27. This will evidently complete the transition to the T+1 cycle that started in February 2022 with the bottom 500 stocks in terms of market value.

Rupee likely to remain range bound; widening current account deficit a big challenge

Rupee likely to remain range bound; widening current account deficit a big challenge

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2023

The Indian rupee is expected to trade between 80 and 84 against dollar in the first three months of 2023 with support from overseas inflows though worsening current account deficit (CAD) and reduced interest rate differential between the US and India pose challenges. According to a Business Standard Poll of 10 participants, most said the rupee could gain strength in January due to foreign inflows, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is not expected to allow the currency to depreciate ahead of the Union Budget scheduled on February 1. The rupee depreciated 10.15 per cent in 2022, its worst performance since 2013 as the war in Europe and the interest rate increase by the US Federal Reserve prompted investors to flee emerging markets.

Monetary policy making: 2022 was year of reset, 2023 could be a long pause

Monetary policy making: 2022 was year of reset, 2023 could be a long pause

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2022

The year 2022 saw the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) start acting on the policy repo rate after a gap of two years. The six-member monetary policy committee of the RBI reduced interest rate sharply - by 115 bps - when Covid-19 struck in 2020. In March 2020, days after the nationwide lockdown was announced, MPC in an unscheduled meeting reduced the repo rate by 75 bps, followed by another 40 bps in May. Status quo was maintained for the next two years since the May repo rate hike.

Banks' balance sheet grows in double digits after 7 years: RBI report

Banks' balance sheet grows in double digits after 7 years: RBI report

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2022

The health of Indian banks continued to improve in 2021-22 with their balance sheet growing at double digits after a gap of seven years and their asset quality and capital position bettering, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in its annual report on trend and progress of banking in India. At the same time, the banking regulator flagged the issue of slippages from restructured accounts. "Going forward, it is imperative that banks ensure due diligence and robust credit appraisal to limit credit risk," the report said.

MPC members voiced different views on interest rate

MPC members voiced different views on interest rate

Rediff.com   23 Dec 2022

The members of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voiced different views on the interest rate and stance, with two of them indicating they may not vote for further rate increases even if Governor Shaktikanta Das and Deputy Governor Michael Patra maintain bringing down inflation as their primary objective, the minutes of the December review of the monetary policy showed. The other two members remained neutral. The MPC increased the policy repo rate by 35 basis points (bps) - which was lower than the previous three hikes of 50 bps. The repo rate has been hiked by 225 bps to 6.25 per cent since May this year.

Can RBI's digital currency replace physical cash?

Can RBI's digital currency replace physical cash?

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2022

Despite the demonetisation of 2016 and the rise in digital transactions that followed, the economy's dependence on cash has remained as high as ever. So when the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced a pilot project of its version of digital cash - called the central bank digital currency (CBDC) - on December 1, many questions were asked. Can the CBDC replace physical cash, even partially? Can it match cash in terms of convenience? Are CBDC transactions truly anonymous?

How Punjab & Sind Bank plans to boost deposits

How Punjab & Sind Bank plans to boost deposits

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2022

State-owned Punjab & Sind Bank is targeting salary accounts to boost the share of low-cost deposits. Swarup Saha, managing director and chief executive officer of the New Delhi-based lender, tells Manojit Saha that the bank may see gross non-performing assets (NPAs) fall below 8 per cent if there is resolution of the stressed assets.

Key challenge for Sundararaman Ramamurthy, the new BSE chief

Key challenge for Sundararaman Ramamurthy, the new BSE chief

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2022

Sundararaman Ramamurthy has been an interesting choice for the publicly-listed BSE, which has seen its chief move to bigger rival -- the National Stock Exchange (NSE) -- in July. Having spent nearly two decades at the country's largest bourse, Ramamurthy is among the early architects of NSE and understands all the cogs of the exchange wheel like only a few others in the country. Just like NSE's core team, which includes its founder RH Patil, the 59-year-old Ramamurthy has worked at the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) before moving to NSE in 1995.